Empowering Broadband Consumers Through Transparency, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 22-2, FCC 22-86 (Broadband Consumer Label)
Empowering Broadband
Consumers Through Transparency, Report and Order and Further Notice
of Proposed Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 22-2, FCC 22-86 (Broadband
Consumer Label)
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
07/25/2023
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
30,050
0
983,493
0
0
0
On November 14, 2022, the Commission
adopted a Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking (Broadband Label Order) requiring ISPs to display a new
broadband label to help consumers comparison shop among broadband
services, thereby implementing section 60504 of the Infrastructure
Act. Specifically, the Commission required ISPs to display, at the
point of sale, a broadband consumer label containing critical
information about the provider’s service offerings, including
information about pricing, introductory rates, data allowances,
performance metrics, and whether the provider participates in the
Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). The Commission required that
ISPs display the label for each stand-alone broadband Internet
access service they currently offer for purchase, and that the
label link to other important information such as network
management practices, privacy policies, and other educational
materials. Consistent with the Infrastructure Act, the label
adopted for fixed and mobile broadband Internet access service is
similar to the two labels the Commission approved in 2016, with
certain modifications. In addition to label content, the Commission
adopted requirements for the label’s format and display location to
ensure consumers can make side-by-side comparisons of various
service offerings from an individual provider or from alternative
providers—something essential for making informed decisions. In
this way, the label resembles the well-known nutrition labels that
consumers have come to rely on when shopping for food products. The
label must be accessible for people with disabilities and for
non-English speakers. A customer’s label must also be available via
the provider’s online account portal. In addition, third parties
will be able to easily analyze information contained in the labels
and help consumers with their purchase decisions, as providers are
required to make the label content available in a machine-readable
format on their websites. Finally, the Commission adopted a label
template (shown below) that all ISPs are required to display at the
point of sale. This label establishes the formatting and content of
all requirements adopted in the Broadband Label Order. On July 18,
2023, the Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
(CGB) released an Order updating the template for the broadband
consumer label. The revised template reflects a new Affordable
Connectivity Program (ACP) application landing page, now available
at GetInternet.gov. This action did not modify or otherwise change
any entity’s underlying responsibilities under the Broadband Label
Order. CGB also made clear that, should a provider be required to
display a Spanish version of the label, it must include the
Spanish-language landing page for the ACP: AccedeaInternet.gov. If
necessary, the Commission will submit the updated label separately
to OMB pursuant to its non-substantive modification
process.
As this is a new information
collection, there are program changes which will be added to OMB’s
inventory once approved as follows: 6,010 to the number of
respondents, 30,050 to the number of annual responses, and 983,493
to the annual burden hours.
$0
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Erica McMachon 202
418-0346
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Supporting statement OMB 3060-XXXX Broadband Consumer Label 7 19 23 (FINAL).docx
Empowering Broadband Consumers Through Transparency, Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, CG Docket No. 22-2, FCC 22-86 (Broadband Consumer Label)